Hey Pinklady long time. You should know by now (everyone should) it doesn't matter who the woman is Albert dates she can even be 45, beautiful with no past and the 90% of the people on these boards and others will find a fault or faults in her. Her teeth are too big, breasts uneven or fake, did you see that ghastly dress, hat or shoes she had on OMG she's got as much of a personality as a fence post which woman use to gossip over or at tea. Saying nice things about AL or Charlene will only cause more gossip and personal attacks.
I feel sorry for both of them because all they are doing is trying to enjoy each others company. In the end when they go to bed at night others aren't looking at him and saying good night I love you. The woman he chooses he must live with not any of us.

I'll not say booooo, because I'm only a Monaco watcher, not emotionally involved, not Albert fan or Grimaldi fan... I'm only trying to look forward pics, informations about current affairs without pink glasses.

he maybe no prize to you but to cherlene he is, that is why she is no longer training for swimming team, she have already set her mind in becomeing princess of monaco,all she have to do now is keep waiting and go to every offical events with him hopeful he will purpose live on a television to her.

More power to her, if that's what she has set her mind to...who am I to judge?

I believe that having Charlene living with him is a big step for Prince Albert. This might be a trial time for them now that they are living together. In a normal relationship, couples court for a while before taking the plunge into marriage. As Mary and Frederick also had a long distance relationship for a couple of years and then she moved to Denmark, but they didn't get engaged as soon as she got there. Why do people feel that for Prince Albert to be serious about his relationship with Charlene, there must be an engagement. Couples need time to get to know each other and especially for Charlene who is with a long time bachelor, with a high profile life and runs a country. Not your everyday boyfriend/girlfriend love story. There are a lot of challenges that she must face and they both need time to see if they can deal with the pressure of being in the limelight. I think they are doing the right thing by taking their time and not jumping into marriage because it's what the world thinks they should do. They are always surrounded by people, doing many different activities, his entourage is always there at his call. But just the fact that she is now living with him, tells me that he wants her by his side and that is a commitment in itself. Charlene is very young and needs a lot of training and guidance. She might not be interested in everything he does and will find what is her call on her own. He is a bachelor set in his ways which she will have to deal with and I am sure that will not be easy. So you see, these too face a lot of stuff that will have to be dealt with before an engagement is announced.

Hey Pinklady long time. You should know by now (everyone should) it doesn't matter who the woman is Albert dates she can even be 45, beautiful with no past and the 90% of the people on these boards and others will find a fault or faults in her. Her teeth are too big, breasts uneven or fake, did you see that ghastly dress, hat or shoes she had on OMG she's got as much of a personality as a fence post which woman use to gossip over or at tea. Saying nice things about AL or Charlene will only cause more gossip and personal attacks.

I feel sorry for both of them because all they are doing is trying to enjoy each others company. In the end when they go to bed at night others aren't looking at him and saying good night I love you. The woman he chooses he must live with not any of us.

You are right that there will always be someone to find fault, but lets be honest, ALbert is not really behaving in a way that avoids it. The size of his country can't be the reason, as there are other royals ruling small countries who are not continously attracting ridicule. I don't remember Rainier being ridiculed, so it has to be sth in Alberts behaviour that attracts it and makes people not respect him the way they do others. But I head of state dancing about a room with a tie around his head is not really helping is it? I am sure if he was more respected, Charlene would receive much less criticism. Prince Frederick was quite a ridiculous person in his youth too, dating inappropriate women etc. That's why people felt justified in criticising Mary, while they didn't know anything about her. And she is still being criticised. Whereas Mette-Marit, although probably having the worst background and the most baggage, was criticised in the beginning, but after having settled into her marriage she is now respected, not only because of her work, but also because her husband was never giving cause for ridicule - unlike his sister. I suppose that people think that if a well respected man choses a wife that she can't be all that bad, whereas when a playboy with little selfrespect and sense of selfdignity choses to present his girlfriend that resembles all other conquests he has shown up with before, people simply assume that she can't be all that good since she is going out with him. And if she continues to proof peoples point by making misleading or untrue statements, then there it is no surprise that the label will keep stuck on her.

Charlene is very young and needs a lot of training and guidance. She might not be interested in everything he does and will find what is her call on her own. He is a bachelor set in his ways which she will have to deal with and I am sure that will not be easy. So you see, these too face a lot of stuff that will have to be dealt with before an engagement is announced.

Since when is 29 a couple of months shy of 30 VERY young? Other women have families and fulltime careers by then and have finished their education in their mid twenties? Not so long ago she would have been considered a desperate old spinster. Remember the comparrison of women at thirty more likely of being eaten by a tiger on the street then ending as someones wife? Besides that a woman her age should not be in need of having to learn much and being trained. She isn't 19 after all.

Yes he is a bachelor set in his ways and he doesn't look as if that will ever change. He probably takes after his greatgrandfather Louis there. Lucky for him that Caro already provided legitimate heirs so there won't be any need for him to desperately search for an heir.

Paca, you are right. Charlene is not very young, but she does and will need a lot of training to do the job of Princess of Monaco. She has dedicated most of her life to her sport and now apparently has decided that being Prince Albert's girlfriend is her new dedication. I do wish them well. With so many rich and famous empty headed women, I don't see Charlene as such a bad choice. Don't you see he has lost his chance to having a family life at an earlier age? It would have been very nice to have seen him surrounded by children and a dedicated wife maybe even before his mother's death. But he chose to live a free, happy go lucky, French Riviera life and now this is what he needs to do. I do hope Charlene is up to the challenge because he needs to finally settle down and create a family. Monaco needs to have a ruler who is a dedicated and responsible family man to bring more than just prestige to the principality. It needs to become more human, warm and that is why I am pleased Prince Albert agreed to partner with Nelson Mandela and do the fundraising this weekend. Prince Albert's life could be very empty and lonely if he doesn't find the right woman to share it with. I hope it is Charlene so that he can be happy and fulfilled.

Now I've finally cottoned on to the fact there's a new sub forum: let the games begin...

Quote:

Originally Posted by goody7058

Will Albert let Charlene become Princess of Monaco? I LOVE OPERA & BALLET maybe Rainer don't like opera and ballet and Grace made him go to it. But they said,Charlene like sports.

Who has ever said she likes sports? It is assumed, but the fact that she was a professional athete doesn't mean she has to actually like other sports. It doesn't even have to mean she likes her own sport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyMacAlpine

I feel sorry for both of them because all they are doing is trying to enjoy each others company. In the end when they go to bed at night others aren't looking at him and saying good night I love you. The woman he chooses he must live with not any of us.

If those two are enjoying each other's company, they have a funny way of showing it. Their faces predict 10 days of tsunamis or twenty days of funerals. If that's joy and enjoyment, I'd love to see what their faces look like when they're at odds with each other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraglia1983

I believe that having Charlene living with him is a big step for Prince Albert. This might be a trial time for them now that they are living together. In a normal relationship, couples court for a while before taking the plunge into marriage. As Mary and Frederick also had a long distance relationship for a couple of years and then she moved to Denmark, but they didn't get engaged as soon as she got there. Why do people feel that for Prince Albert to be serious about his relationship with Charlene, there must be an engagement. Couples need time to get to know each other and especially for Charlene who is with a long time bachelor, with a high profile life and runs a country. Not your everyday boyfriend/girlfriend love story. There are a lot of challenges that she must face and they both need time to see if they can deal with the pressure of being in the limelight. I think they are doing the right thing by taking their time and not jumping into marriage because it's what the world thinks they should do. They are always surrounded by people, doing many different activities, his entourage is always there at his call. But just the fact that she is now living with him, tells me that he wants her by his side and that is a commitment in itself. Charlene is very young and needs a lot of training and guidance. She might not be interested in everything he does and will find what is her call on her own. He is a bachelor set in his ways which she will have to deal with and I am sure that will not be easy. So you see, these too face a lot of stuff that will have to be dealt with before an engagement is announced.

miraglia1983, so far, the living together is a myth created by the tabloids to spice things up. I know of no evidence to support this theory. Besides, Albert is the head of state of a country that has catholicism as state religion. Living in sin is just about the worst thing he can do. Having said that, I'm not sure if it tops the two illegitimate children, but since the pope was cheerful and friendly enough the last time Albert visited him and since Albert didn't look as if he was told off at that visit, maybe Albert is a special case?

Also, Albert and Charlene know each other since 2001. That is six years. And they spent two of them practically living in each other's pockets. If after that time they still don't know each other and still can't make up their minds, it's a lost case imo.

If Albert is indeed living with this woman openly I think that it's foolhardy bordering on just plain stupid and disrespectful.

Albert is not Prince of some Scandinavian country where this type of thing is considered normal. Yes I know that both of his sisters did it but I thought it was tacky of them as well....what is so hard about maintaining separate residences until you are married in the sight of God and man?? This type of behavior(if it's true) is not likely to endear Albert further with his subjects.

I believe that having Charlene living with him is a big step for Prince Albert. This might be a trial time for them now that they are living together. In a normal relationship, couples court for a while before taking the plunge into marriage. As Mary and Frederick also had a long distance relationship for a couple of years and then she moved to Denmark, but they didn't get engaged as soon as she got there. Why do people feel that for Prince Albert to be serious about his relationship with Charlene, there must be an engagement. Couples need time to get to know each other and especially for Charlene who is with a long time bachelor, with a high profile life and runs a country. Not your everyday boyfriend/girlfriend love story. There are a lot of challenges that she must face and they both need time to see if they can deal with the pressure of being in the limelight. I think they are doing the right thing by taking their time and not jumping into marriage because it's what the world thinks they should do. They are always surrounded by people, doing many different activities, his entourage is always there at his call. But just the fact that she is now living with him, tells me that he wants her by his side and that is a commitment in itself. Charlene is very young and needs a lot of training and guidance. She might not be interested in everything he does and will find what is her call on her own. He is a bachelor set in his ways which she will have to deal with and I am sure that will not be easy. So you see, these too face a lot of stuff that will have to be dealt with before an engagement is announced.

I would agree, that they need time as a couple and would be smart to spend some real time together to really get to know each other outside of the public eye. But they took this relationship public from the beginning at a time that was probably the worst thing Albert could have done. People wanted to see what he would do as a new Monarch (especially in the face of the annoucements &/or problems of his private life.) The fact that he would then show up flaunting an attention loving girl, 20 yrs his junior, speaks volumes to many.

They both seem to enjoys the publicity that each other brings?? And from her behavior she is in it for the publicity and not for any great love for Albert, it certainly gives that appearance, which makes them both look like amatures. I think Albert realizes this and really must not care why anyone dates him? He as always dated this same publicity seeking opportunist type of woman. If he wanted to know of a woman's true feelings for him, he might keep her away from the publicity & expensive perks to see if she would stay around - you can't say he doesn't know any better (with his experience), and from their first date, Charlene revealed herself for what kind of girl she was and what she was after. I don't know why we keep expecting something or someone different for him really??

Anyway, if either one of them had a clue they would try to keep there private life private, so they could get to know each other the way most other mature couples do, who are in the public eye (& otherwise) know to do. But Albert has Charlene at his side at public events walking in him and his family, when she is not yet in that postion. This is where all the criticism comes from, since they are not engaged, it really shows bad form. This is very immature on both of there parts, especially Albert who seems to want to mingle with the big boys, who I can't imagine take Albert very serious. The way they have handled the relationship shows little class, the fact that she is not mature or smart enough to not want to keep the relationship private is very revealing as to her lack of maturity & development as a person, and Albert's.

She does not seem to have a problem with the limelight, one might think it was her only ambition, which is the other problem people have with her and Albert for once again dating a woman who is only interested in being famous & rich as you mention in your other post.

"Charlene is very young & needs a lot of training and guidance" the fact that this is more than evident, is what is so disturbing. She is not young (Grace was younger), it is that she is so immature & underdeveloped for her age! Even if she was mature for her age, there is a 20 yr age difference. It is obvious this relationship is not about love, but something else, which is why no one in the 21st Century can see this as some fairytale romance, just old fashion insecurities involving lust & greed, both using the only thing they think they have, to attract opportunity (IMO). Sad!

The thing these two need to face and deal with before an engagement, is to grow up. This relationship has already damaged his reputation as a man, which does not reflect well on his position as a monarch (IMO).

Paca & Ghislaine, Well said!

Pink Lady, Great posts. I completely agree. That is why it is even more important that these two share something in common, at the very least a level of maturity (hopefully age appropriate).

Whether or not Charlene is supposed to be following royal protocol or what the pictures of her and Albert just dont vibe. I mean when Mary and Frederik , the other royal couples, were together at first they were seen as being in love, sharing loving looks, touching, etc. I just dont see this with Albert and Charlene, IMO it appears strained, almost fake. I may be wrong but as a couple who've been together 18 months, they should be more relaxed and natural together. I may be wrong. Time will tell.

Re quote People wanted to see what he would do in the face of private problems...his showing up with a woman 20 years his junior.

That, imo is EXACTLY what the presenting, funning, showing off etc was the response to. This, I feel he wanted to show what he considers his prize, in the face of his unwanted attention of May 2005 to his peers and the world. And what better place and time than the olympics events to do it. I must say it was the perfect time and place if he wanted to show his prize. And I hope for his sake she is and will bring him happiness. Who's to say. She might very well be what he has been looking for "all of his life", and he is taking his time.

Re quote People wanted to see what he would do in the face of private problems...his showing up with a woman 20 years his junior.

That, imo is EXACTLY what the presenting, funning, showing off etc was the response to. This, I feel he wanted to show what he considers his prize, in the face of his unwanted attention of May 2005 to his peers and the world. And what better place and time than the olympics events to do it. I must say it was the perfect time and place if he wanted to show his prize. And I hope for his sake she is and will bring him happiness. Who's to say. She might very well be what he has been looking for "all of his life", and he is taking his time.

I agree...if the prize is an attractive woman 20 years his junior who is willing to give up everything, be publicly humiliated by his philandering, who is uncomfortable in semi-official situations, and from the looks of some (most?) photos looks as if she is being forced on his family, then what is the contest?

If Albert wanted to be taken seriously after the revelation that his personal life isn't all that pristine, then he would do everything in his power to make sure that he would be repesented well on the public and private stage.

I agree...if the prize is an attractive woman 20 years his junior who is willing to give up everything, be publicly humiliated by his philandering, who is uncomfortable in semi-official situations, and from the looks of some (most?) photos looks as if she is being forced on his family, then what is the contest?
If Albert wanted to be taken seriously after the revelation that his personal life isn't all that pristine, then he would do everything in his power to make sure that he would be repesented well on the public and private stage.

Graet Pinklady, I do beleive that Albert is doing only what he wants and only that without thinking too much at the other person or other people because he knows that he will always find a girl who will agree with that, and he's the prince, people are only allowed to say "oui Monseigneur".

Graet Pinklady, I do beleive that Albert is doing only what he wants and only that without thinking too much at the other person or other people because he knows that he will always find a girl who will agree with that, and he's the prince, people are only allowed to say "oui Monseigneur".

Thank you Lilae. It ought to be obvious to everyone, everyone hither and yon, that Little Albie does what Little Albie wants.

And its not about what you/me/whoever thinks. Wasn't there some quote made some time ago about "...my destiny"? Those words impressed me, when I read them. As for me I thought ok-who's to say? How many of us have had what we prized and others thought differently?

Re the "prize"(my word) How would you treat something, someone any differently-- the constancy, continuing escorting-the whole package--if you didn't consider it to be of importance to yourself. {Except of course, the M word}

Albert and Charlene are togetehr at the official opening of the rugby world cup among Heads of State and other personalities...at this point I really believed he has crossed the line, bringing a person with no official role whatsoever to represent his Country with him. I don't care what he does in his house or his bedroom, but couldn't he be a little more respectful of protocol in public?